Timothy J. Haller

Timothy J. Haller — Patent Litigation Practice Summary

Haller is a veteran trial lawyer whose practice spans patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright litigation, with a particular emphasis on licensing-driven disputes. His mechanical engineering background (B.S.M.E., Clarkson, 1968) informs his work across technologies including Wi-Fi/WLAN and mesh networking, vehicle-tracking/telematics systems, and software/billing platforms; he does not handle pharma work. Historically his docket was heavily plaintiff-side on behalf of non-practicing/licensing entities (e.g., Wi3, BillingNetwork Patent, Internet Media Interactive, JSDQ Mesh Technologies, and the Innovatio Wi-Fi portfolio), though his tracked appearance here is a defense-side matter — representing Shipping and Transit LLC against Unified Patents Inc.'s challenge — indicating he works both sides.

Haller was a name partner for nearly four decades at the Chicago IP boutique Niro, Haller & Niro (founded as Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro in 1976), serving as its Secretary/Treasurer. Since 2016 he has been principal of his own Haller Law PLLC (Chicago and Naples, FL); a FindLaw listing also associates him with Niro Law, Ltd. in Chicago.

His one tracked case, Unified Patents Inc. v. Shipping and Transit LLC, sits at the intersection of district court and PTAB practice: Unified filed IPRs (IPR2016-01465 and IPR2017-00361) against Shipping & Transit's U.S. Patent 6,415,207 (automated vehicle-status tracking, inherited from ArrivalStar). The Board instituted on all challenged claims in February 2017, and both proceedings terminated by confidential settlement in March 2017. Separately, Marquis Who's Who reports he was lead trial counsel in a substantial settlement against the Chamberlain Door Company in Detroit. He does not appear regularly in IPR/PGR proceedings — in the tracked PTAB dockets, patent-owner counsel of record were other attorneys — suggesting his role was in related district-court litigation.

Bar / education: Admitted New York (1975), Illinois (1979), and Florida (2005); registered before the USPTO; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center (1974), B.S.M.E. with distinction, Clarkson College (1968).